1998 V70 Knocking Noise - PLEASE HELP
 

So I have a 1998 V70. I'm about to go out of town on Monday on a three-week business trip, so the other day i took the car to my local Precision Tune to get the oil changed, wheel alignment and 4 new tires. Since this has been done, and getting progressively worse (especially today), I have been getting an ominous, deep knocking when idling in drive or neutral, and accelerating, and when hitting the gas in reverse. I took a look under the hood, and you cannot hear the sound in any mechanics under the hood, only when sitting in the car, you can clearly hear the thumping and feel the vibrating. The car seems to be running a bit rough in general, as well, but it could be my imagination/placebo effect expecting such a problem. No warning lights, all else seems fine.

Does anyone have any idea what this is? Did they muck up something in my car or is it coincidence, the timing? Is it suspension, transmission? I can take it back to them early Monday morning, but of course I have to leave that afternoon on this trip, I can't cancel. I need to know the car is safe to drive.

I should also note I live in NC, which was hit by tornadoes and torrential t-showers today. Could this just be because of rain getting into the brakes/suspension? Sorry, I'm very ignorant about car mechanics.

Thanks so much for any help you guys can give me.

just took it out again real quick...noticed that it definitely seems like the front underneath-passenger area. it also seems to be far worse/more noticeable when braking.

sounds like a broken engine mount in that area, but since you had an alignment I wonder if the shop left something loose.

Take it back to them and drive the car with one of the techs and explain the knock.

Take it back, coincidence my foot.

Well unfortunately, I couldn't take it back today because they're closed. I found the one mechanic in Durham that's open on Sunday, and turns out...drumroll...inner tie rod! Why Precision Douche Tune didn't notice this when they did a wheel alignment is beyond me. So I have to leave the car to get repaired while I'm out of town (I now have to take my wife's Impala on my trip while she borrows her mother's ****ty Lumina), and then my wife has to take it for ANOTHER alignment back to the original place...

and goddamn demand they pay for it. UNCOOL.

at least it isn't an expensive fix. but it robs me the comfort of my v70 that i was looking forward to on the road for three weeks. nothing against the impala, but it isn't quite as comfortable. ah well. thanks for the help guys!